Remember that alligator I mentioned the other day? Well, I'm releived to say I'm well into the first round with him and after the first round, it's Erin 1 Alligator 0!
I had my Lap band surgery on Friday September 24th. Everything went smoothly. Everything went smoothly until Saturday the 25th. I took my liquid pain medication and then threw up. Not Good! I was unaware at the time, but this caused my band to slip up much higher than it should be. This is one of the rare complications of Lap band. Vomiting is something that should be avoided at all cost after surgery, especially one day after surgery. The next 48 hours were a blur, a very painful blur. Luckily I had my surgeon's cell phone number and was able to continuously bug him over the course of the weekend. By Monday morning I was unable to swallow anything, including my own saliva. I knew I was in trouble. I was admitted to the hospital and required a second surgery. The second surgery was successful and he added some extra reinforcement to my band. I spent several days in the hospital in this strange Dilaudid coma of sorts. Several people have since told me stories of things I did that I am completely unaware of. Unfortunately this includes swearing at the IV therapy staff. How embarrassing.
Of course I hadn't planned on taking any time off from work or school. It was just gonna be outpatient surgery. In at 7 am and home by noon as I told everyone. So I had no plan in place when everything slid down hill. Scott's Mom and Dad filled in until my mom flew down at the drop of a hat when I called her crying. She comes down like this every time I have a crisis. Unfortunately the last few visits she's had with us have been under these same circumstances. So she never really sees us as an actual functioning family. I have to say things like, you can sleep in the extra bed if you can please fold all ten loads of laundry on top of it and if you want anything to eat, you might want to stop at the grocery store on the way from the airport and could you pick up milk, laundry detergent and toilet paper too? One day I hope she'll come down for a real vacation and not just to bail me out of another crisis. I was already in the hospital when she arrived, so her feet hit the ground running. She navigates a city she doesn't know bringing children to bus stops she doesn't know. She becomes me instantly. School, daycare, backpacks, homework, etc...
I arrived home a day after surgery and suffered for several more days in pain. At this point I was afraid to take any of the pain medication for fear of vomiting, so I just had to tough it out. Sit in the recliner with the heating pad watching the cooking channel and getting up and walking outside between episodes of Diner's Drive Ins and Dives. Every day I walked a little farther and every day I got a little stronger.
I had to progress through a clear liquid, full liquid, puree and then finally a soft and mushy food diet. I'm still in that phase. It's funny how creative you become when you want something bad enough. I made myself a tiny lasagna minus the meat and pasta. I can't wait to be able to eat crunchy food again. I picture a big green salad with lots of cucumbers on it. I need to wait another week or two for that. As far as portions go, their small. Not just small, comically small. I went out and bought ever tinier plates and some tiny little forks (for seafood I think) just so my portions didn't look so lost on the old plates. I have become obsessed with food. Not in a bad way, but an interesting way. Because I can only fit such a tiny amount, it is so important that it taste awesome, be perfectly cooked and be very high quality fuel. I plan every meal. No mindless eating or eating without focusing on every bite.
I took the dreaded before pictures the night before surgery and tried on my picture outfit again last night to take more and the pants fell down. WHAT????? I was thrilled. It's been two weeks and I'm down...
wait for it...
wait for it...
19 pounds!!!!!
It is so exciting to see my body change so fast. Things will hopefully get into a nice steady groove soon. That rate of weight loss isn't the norm. One or two pounds of week is expected. So naturally I'm planning on losing three.
I currently have a serious meatloaf in the oven alongside a big pot of mashed cauliflower, parsnips and potatoes. This is about an hours worth of dinner prep and another forty minutes to cook only to eat about 3 tablespoons of meatloaf and 2 tablespoons of cauliflower mash. I told you, I'm obsessed!
